The laboratory
Laboratoire Idela-Herbo prepares and packages its herbal teas in Cotonou, Benin. It is led by its founder, Idelphonse Ahouandjinou, a herbalist of more than thirty years.
The house belongs to the national association of traditional medicine practitioners of Benin, to its Ivorian counterpart, and to the equivalent association in Lagos State.
Species are identified at the university
The laboratory works with botany and pharmacology professors of the University of Abomey-Calavi to identify species and their active principles. When a plant is in doubt, specimens are submitted to them.
The process, in five steps
- Picking
- Drying
- Sorting
- Blending
- Packaging
Harvesting happens in the morning, while leaves and young stems are still full of sap. Drying is done on raised racks, in three modes according to the part of the plant.